EPA Makes Major Changes To Scope, Trading Plan In Final Transport Rule

摘要

EPA's just-issued final cap-and-trade rule to curb interstate air pollution from power plants makes major changes to the proposed version of the rule, introducing a new emissions allocation method that aims to resolve concerns about some units receiving an unfair share of credits and narrowing the number of states subject to the rule. The Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR) issued July 7 creates a trading program to cut sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) pollution from power plants in 27 Eastern states. The proposed version of the rule, known as the Clean Air Transport Rule (CATR), would have imposed the trading program in 31 Eastern states and the District of Columbia. The rule replaces a Bush EPA trading program that a federal appeals court remanded to EPA in 2008.